Ferret
                        Study Group Notes


Order:         Carnivora
Family:        Mustelidae (Skunk, otter, mink, badger)
Genus:         Mustela
Species:       putoris
Sub-Species:   furo

Probably a domestication of the European polecat or European
ferret.

Mustela nigripes : Black footed ferret

Mustela vison: Ranch mink

Mephitis mephitis: Skunk

Taxidea sp.: Badgers

I 3 C 1 Pm 3 M 1 = 34
  3   1    3   1

Shortsighted

2N = 34.

Colors:  Fitch, albino, siamese, silver, silver mitt

Female:   Jill
Male:     Hob
Young:    Kits

42 day gestation. Pseudo-pregnancy last 42 days.

Prolonged estrus = fatal aplastic anemia due to bone marrow
depression from high levels of estrogens.

Eclamptogenic toxemia occurs prior to whelping.  Prevent with
administration of raw liver.

Born blind, deaf, hairless.  Wean at 6-7 weeks. 5-6 year life
span.

40% of the SubQ fat accumulates in the fall.

Seasonal polyestrous.

Induced ovulatory, like:
     Cat       Rabbit         Mink
     Short-tailed opossum     Ground squirrels

     
Os penis has kooks.

Preputial opening on ventral abdomen near naval.

Poorly developed sweat glands:
     Increased heat or humidity will stress.

Cannot digest fiber.  

Food transit time: 3-4 hours.

Feed dog or cat food, supplemented with meat and vitamins.

Does not have:
     Cecum
     Appendix
     Prostate
     Seminal vesicles

14-15 pair of ribs, 15 thoracic vertebra

Supernumerary incisors are common.

Heat loss primarily through lungs, only a little through sweat
glands.

Hard to differentiate the small and large intestine.

Innominate artery.  Useful for CNS pharmacology studies.

Gall bladder is contractile:  Same as dog and man.

Endothelialchorial placenta.

5 toes on each foot.

Urine:
     Males is normally dark.
     Proteinuria is common.

Vomit readily ... fast prior to surgery.

Vaccinate with canine distemper only.

Do not vaccinate for (not susceptible to):
     FVRCP
     ICH
     Mink viral enteritis

Musk producing glands lateral to anus (primarily).

Botulism:
     Highly susceptible to type C (Vacc with Type C toxoid)

Campylobacter fetus jejuni:
     Zoonotic
     60% positive
     If lesions develop: proliferative ileitis
     Green bloody stool

Abbesses:
     Highly susceptible
     Staph or strept or pasteurella

Mastitis:
     Nursing jills
     Staph, Strep, E. coli

Distemper:
     Deadly for ferrets
     Used as sentinels in dog colonies

Human influenza:
     Highly susceptible
     Animal model

Aleutian disease:
     Parvovirus
     Sub clinical

Rotavirus of kits can be fatal.

Vitamin deficiencies:
     Chasteks paralysis:  Thiamin deficiency
     Achromotrichia:     Biotin 
     Anemia:             Vitamin E
     Rickets:            Vitamin D
     
Urolithiasis:
     Renal and cystic calculi

Gastric ulcers: stress related

Animal Models:
     Rubella:  Only model. See fetal malformations.
     Subac. Sclero. Enceph: Probably the same as rubella
     Congenital lissencephaly:  Induce with MAM acetate
     Emetic research:  Replacing the dog as animal of choice
     Congenital cerebellar hypoplasia:  Parvovirus

Cycle out by using HCG.

Color mutants recessive to the fitch.

Testicles descend during breeding season.

Susceptible to avian, bovine and human TB.  See emaciation with
paralysis of the pelvic adductor muscles.  Can TB skin test.

Ferret distemper is 100% fatal. Most die in the acute phase, the
rest die with the CNS phase.

Rabies:
     Highly susceptible

Heart worms:
     1 adult parasite can kill and adult ferret.

Galvanized cages (Zinc) will kill.

Reye Syndrome:
     Induce with human influenza, aspirin, and arginine deficient
diet.

Adrenalectomy:  Can maintain on 1% NaCl in drinking water.

Campylobacter in stomach = Helicobacter putoro

Skeleton consist of Axial, Appendicular, and heterotopic bones
(Not associated with either the axial or appendicular ... nose,
heart, penis).

Skull lacks sutures as adult.